Scott Morrison's role could be beefed up to include anti-terrorism responsibilities

James Massola and Sarah Whyte

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is tipped to take on additional responsibilities for counter-terrorism under changes being considered by the federal government.

Speculation is rife in government ranks that Mr Morrison, who is seen as one of the Coalition's star performers after just over a year in his role, could receive the extra responsibilities when a review of Australia's counter-terrorism machinery is concluded.

Government sources have suggested the most likely outcome is that Mr Morrison will have an expanded role that takes in counter-terrorism, though some suggest some of under-performing Defence Minister David Johnston's portfolio responsibilities could be folded into a US-style Homeland Security super-portfolio.

The counter-terrorism review was ordered by Prime Minister Tony Abbott early last month as part of the package of beefed up anti-terrorism measures for Australia's security agencies, and followed in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 tragedy.

Fairfax Media has been told that work is now well under way in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on how an expanded portfolio for Mr Morrison might work, though no decision has been taken on when or how the changes would be implemented.

Asked earlier this week about the prospect of the Prime Minister reorganising the national security architecture – and promoting him – Mr Morrison said: "These things are well above my pay grade, it's my job to do my thing in immigration and border protection and I'm getting on with that".

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He said the members of the National Security Committee were doing an excellent job.

There is also talk Australia's domestic spy agency, ASIO, could be taken from Attorney-General George Brandis' portfolio and placed under Mr Morrison's charge.

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Both these changes are, however, thought to be less likely, with the more likely outcome being a command structure modelled on Operation Sovereign Borders. The move is not being described as a reshuffle per se, but rather a recognition of Mr Morrison's handling of his portfolio.

One cabinet minister told Fairfax Media Mr Morrison was widely considered to have done a great job and to have delivered on a big election promise by stopping the boats.

That minister played down suggestions that any promotion could be delayed by the need to wait for the release of reports from the Independent Commission against Corruption that would help resolve the future of stood-aside assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos.

Mr Morrison's deal with Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer to allow controversial temporary protection visas and his signing on Friday of a long-awaited deal with Cambodia to permanently resettle asylum seekers appear to be the final jobs on his portfolio checklist.

So far this year, only one boatload of asylum seekers has arrived on Australian shores, which Mr Morrison has consistently claimed is as a result of his hardline border policies.

But while he has been able to "tick off" the outcomes of the immigration round, long-term consequences of his border policies will remain. A significant number of asylum seekers being held in detention centres are showing alarming signs of mental illness, while a report from the Australian Human Rights Commission's inquiry into children in detention is also expected to be presented to Parliament by the end of this year.

The offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea remain controversial. Not one of the 1084 asylum seekers on Manus Island have been resettled, and no one in Australia is being sent to Nauru.

In reality, only Mr Abbott and his chief of staff, Peta Credlin – much like John Howard and his former chief of staff, the now senator Sinodinos – can really claim to know what comes next.